Living in Canada need to find best UK bank account.

Wendyloo

I’m new to the forums and would like some advice please. We’ve lived in canada for 15 yrs and kept our HSBC bank account in the UK for easy access to UK money on trips home. The security features have since been tightened and we cant access our accounts online due to the time it takes the bank to send out the new PIN etc by mail.
Does anyone have advice on the best online banks?
Thanks
Wendy

Uxb

Strange to report I think you will find that UK banking facilities and any advantages of them (like completely free banking when in credit) are intended only to be used by UK residents.
While some banks will grudgingly allow existing accounts to be used after the person moves abroad you will find it next to impossible to open new ones

I believe the international arms of all the main clearing banks based in the Channel Islands provide international banking facilities for Expats - at a cost of course.

Wendyloo

Yes thats what we are finding. We may try transferring from a current acct to savings and see what joy we get there.
Thanks for the advice
Wendy

paragon909

What's wrong with Canadian HSBC or different bank or Canadian .

colsten

Wendyloo wrote: »

The security features have since been tightened and we cant access our accounts online due to the time it takes the bank to send out the new PIN etc by mail.

Can you elaborate on this? Like: why do you need a PIN for HSBC access? And if you do, how often does it change?

I am using my HSBC account online and via the app. I never need a PIN for accessing it through either route. I have only ever received 1 PIN for my HSBC debit card via mail. I haven't received any mail from HSBC in years - all my accounts are set to paperless

What stops you from using the HSBC app? What stops you from using HSBC online, either using the physical or the digital securekey?

Wendyloo

Well our fault initially as we needed to change our secure key as we had not accessed the account in over a year. The process then is torturous as we are 6 hours behind due to the time zone we live in. When we manage to change the PIN etc HSBC then send out verification via mail which can take up to 6 weeks by which time the verification time period has lapsed.

colsten

6 weeks for a letter from the UK to Canada? You sure this actually happened in the 21st century?

HSBC UK CS is open 8am to 8pm UK time daily. Surely you can manage to speak to them at some stage during the Canadian day even if you are 6 hours behind?

Wendyloo

I’m afraid so and i work for Canada Post so I’m not proud! Oh and we can speak to them the issue is them sending mail to us

Wendyloo

The Canadian branch does not interact with the UK side as you would expect. We want to keep a UK bank account so that we dont have to rely on the foreign exchange fees etc when we retur to the UK. We did have an HSBC account in Canada when we first came here hoping it would make for a smooth transition but it was no help.

sal_III

If your only need for UK bank account is dictated by a need for lower/no exchange fees during your visits. Your best bet is to look at the likes of Transferwise and Revolut.

Wendyloo

Thanks I will look into those. I really wanted a home for my meagre (very meagre) savings in UK, but i will certainly check those out :j